Cohesion fund
The European Parliament should push for more ambitious and greener measures for 2014-2020
The European Parliament's regional development committee today voted on the Cohesion Fund for 2014–2020. This vote was on the proposals agreed between the EU Council and the European Parliament on the regulations for the different funds under EU Cohesion Policy for 2014-2020.
Commenting on the vote, Nikos Chrysogelos, Greens/EFA MEP (Greece) and shadow rapporteur on this file, stated:
"With the crisis and continuing austerity measures further increasing inequalities within the member state and regions, Cohesion Policy and the Cohesion Fund are vitally important to economic recovery. However, the amounts proposed by the EU Council in the EU's multiannual budget (MFF) fail to fully take account of today's reality.
"The Greens/EFA group pursued and partly succeeded in greening the Cohesion Fund, particularly through the measures allowing member states and regions to green their planning, adopt an eco-friendly approach and bridge any contradictions between their obligations and a project's final results. Some of the most important aspects and priorities of Cohesion Policy and the Cohesion Fund are energy saving for housing, promotion of renewables and environmental projects, restoration of eco-systems and urban and brown field land rehabilitation.
"The Cohesion Fund also plays a vital role in creating jobs and in the sustainable revitalization of the economy and can ease inequalities and disparities in Europe. The Council should take this into account concerning its MFF proposal which fails to take account of today's needs. Member states and regions need to grasp this opportunity and also involve civil society in shaping the proposals for the Cohesion Fund for 2014-2020. We welcome the planned support for both capacity building of local and regional authorities and the social partners on project planning, monitoring and evaluation."
